WEIGHTS AND MEASURES* 



IN the metric system the liter is a unit of capacity equivalent to the volume 

 occupied by the mass of 1 kilogram of pure water at its maximum density. It is 

 equivalent in volume to 1.000027 cubic decimeter. Under this definition a milli- 

 liter (0.001 of a liter) is different from a cubic centimeter by a very minute frac- 

 tion. However, as "cubic centimeter" is the term used throughout medical literature 

 we shall use it in this book, though both the U. S. and British Pharmacopoeias have 

 adopted the term "milliliter" (mil.) in its place. / 



A. METRIC 



T1[7 . , Approximate 



Weight: Written. equivalent. 



1 milligram (mg.) 0.001 - s grain 



10 milligrams = 1 centigram (eg.) 0.01 g grain 



10 centigrams = 1 decigram (dg.) 0.1 1| grains 



10 decigrams = 1 gram (gm.) 1.0 15 grains 



1000 grams = 1 kilogram (kilo.) 1000.0 2J pounds 



Volume: 



1 milliliter (mil.) 1.0 15 minims 



1 cubic centimeter (c.c.) 1.0 15 minims 



(1 c.c. of water weighs 1 gm.) 



1000 cubic centimeters = 1 liter (L.) 1000.0 34 fluidounces 



Length: 



1 millimeter (mm.) -J* inch 



10 millimeters = 1 centimeter (cm.) ~f inch 



10 centimeters = 1 decimeter (dm.) 4 inches 



10 decimeters = 1 meter (M.) 40 inches 



B. APOTHECARIES 



Approximate 



Weight (Troy): equivalent. 



1 grain (gr.) 0.065 gm. 



10 grains 0.7 gm. 



20 grains = 1 scruple (9) 1.3 gm. 



3 scruples = 1 dram (5) 4.0 gm. 



8 drams = 1 ounce () 30.0 gm. 



12 ounces = 1 pound (Ib) 372.0 gm. 



Volume: 



1 minim (ng) 0.06 c.c. 



60 minims = 1 dram (5) 4 - c - c - 



8 drams = 1 ounce (5) 30.0 c.c. 



16 ounces = 1 pint (O) 475.0 c.c. 



2 pints = 1 quart (Oij) 950.0 c.c. 



8 pints = 1 gallon (Cong.). 



(1 gill = 4 fluidounces.) 



Length: 



1 inch (in.) 2.5 cm. 



*From Bastedo's "Materia Medica, Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Pre- 

 scription Writing." 



